Method and apparatus for treating hydrocarbons



'Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,394

c. s. CORNING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONS Filed Sept. 8, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 13,1927.

C. S. CORNING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONS Filed Sept. 8, 1923 4 Sheets+Sheet 2 Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,394

6. s. CORNING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONS Filed Sept. 8, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,394

c. s. CORNING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONS Filed Sept. 8, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @ifrissas/ 0Y7? vent 0% 2% it/e4 711 7 Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. CHARLES S. CORNING, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WARREN S. CORNING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROGARBONS..

Application filed September 8, 1923. Serial No. 661,662.

- My invention relates to improvements in the method of treating hydro-carbons to produce gasoline, lubricating and other oils, and

to an improved apparatus particularly adapted for carrying. out the method described.

The invention has among its objects the production of'a method and apparatus of the ind described that is exceedingly convenient, simple, efficient and satisfactory. It has particularly as an object a continuous method of treating heavy oil to secure lighter oils which will be particularly economical as well as rapid, and which will produce a uniform product. It has among its further objects the production of an apparatus of the kind described that is reliable, compact and self cleaning, and although compact, will have a considerable capacity and will at all times produce a uniform product with a minimum of loss.

In the present apparatus, the same is designed to liberate the lighter fuels in the form of vapors, which are then treated to a cracking process with the application of heat to further break up the resulting products. The a paratus, however, or such portions thereo as are applicable, may be used wherever found satisfactory, and in connection with such other apparatus as it maybe found ada ted.

any other objects and advantages of the methods and construction herein shown and described will be obvious'to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given.

To this end'my invention consists in the novel methods, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims. i

In the drawings, wherein like reference and any number in the banks. these are arranged in a furnace or heating 1 is a plan view illustrating my imretorts of the desired size, shape and construction. I have illustrated three banks or series of retorts 1, 2, and 3, each bank consisting of one or more units preferably arranged in series, the several retorts in bank 1 being connected with the retorts in bank 2, and the retorts in bank 2 with the retorts in bank 3. There may be any number of banks As shown,

chamber 4, supplied with heat from the heating source 5, which may be in the form of an oil burner or any equivalent. The heat passing around the'retorts as shown, is conducted through-the chamber -6 to the stack 7, 8 being a heating or cracking chamber in communication with the chamber 6 and stack 7, as will be hereinafter described.

A description of one of the retorts in one of the banks will sufiice for all as they are all substantially similar.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, the furnace is provided with the walls 10 and top 14, enclosing the retorts which may be mounted upon thebases 11. Each retort is of the desired size and shape and formed with a chamber 12 as shown, and is of cast steel or any equivalent material, and

may be provided with the flanges 13 which form a support for the top 14 of the furnace. Each retort is provided with a cover 15 which ma be secured in place on the retort, if desire in any suitable manner. Arranged in each retort is a partition or bafile 16 which'may be secured in place and maintained in spaced relation with the sides of the chamber by bolts 17 or equivalent means.

As shown, the partitionplates are provided with passa eways 19 at the bottom, and may, if desired, e slightly spaced from the side walls of the chamber as indicated" at 18. They are also shown as spaced fromthe cover, as indicated at 20. Extending from iach retort unit is a discharge pipe 22 which of the banks of retorts are constructed substantially as just described in the preferred construction.

Referring to Fig.1, 24 representsan intake pipe and 25 connectingpipes between prefer to connect with a header 23. Each the several units, 26 bein the discharge pipe connecting bank 1 with ank 2. As shown, feed pipe 24 communicates with the source of crude oilsupply 27, a circulation being maintained, when required, by means of gravity or a pump 28 or the equivalent located as desired, driven by a motor 29 or equivalent means. Bank 2 is connected with bank 3 by means of pipe 30, 31 being a discharge pipe communicating with discharge pipe 33. If desired, and in some cases it is preferred, a pump 32 or the like may be provided in the discharge line 31, or at some other desired point, the same being operated by a motor 29 or the equivalent. Generally, I prefer to provide pyrometers 34 for ascertaining the temperature of the contents of the retorts.

As most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, discharge pipes 35, 36 and 37 extend from the several headers through chamber 8,

and are connected with a header 38 com-,

municating with a discharge conduit or pipe 39. A valve 40, however, is preferably provided. I also prefer to provide the discharge pipes 41, 42, and 43 connected with the pipes 37, 36 and 35 respectively, and provide valves 44 and 45 for each pipe. Chamber 8 is provided with communicating passages with the chamber 6, the admission of heated gases from chamber 8 ,into chamher 6 being controlled by closures 4:8 or their equivalents, which I prefer to control thermostatically so that a desired temperature in chamber 8 may be maintained. As shown, diagrammatically represents thermostats of suitable type. When the heated gases pass into chamber 8, they may pass through the chamber and out port 51 into the stack 7. The heated gases from the furnace may thus pass either through chamber 6 directly into the stack 7 or into chamber 8 to the stack 7 so as to maintain at a desired temperature the contents of the several pipes or conduits in chamber 8. p

The operation of my improved device may be briefly described as follows:

The crude oil or the like is discharged into the first bank of retorts from the pipe 24 and circulates therein and out through pipe 26 to the bank 2, and similarly to bank 3, and thence out through the discharge pipe 31. As it passes into the bank 1, it is initially heated, and the more volatile gases are liberated and pass up intothe header, and thence through the pipe 35 into the chamber 8. It will be noted that owing to the articular construction of retort, the circuating crude oil is spread out into a thin stream, and due to the partition plate travels down and up, and a considerable area exposed to heated surfaces so that the same very quickly is heated to a point to liberate the gases that are easily volatile. Continued circulation liberates the gases in the banks 2 and 3, etc., depending upon the number of banks. By providing the pyrometers 34, it is possible to know the temperature of the circulating fluid, and it will be noted that these temperatures may be positively controlled. I also preferably provide the pyrometers 34 or their equivalents.- In the first place, the heat in the furnace may be regulated, and if an oil burner is provided, may be controlled to a very close degree. By controlling the pump 28, the circulation or rate of circulation may be positivel controlled. This is also the case where t e additional pump 32 is provided. By increasing the flow or decreasing the same, an even temperature may be maintained. It may be mentioned that this positive control is very desirable as it is my object toliberate the gases or more volatile constituents of the crude oil without any appreciable amount of cracking, it being desirable to crack the gases as they pass through the chamber 8. I prefer to crack as little as possible in the retorts and to crack as much as possible in the cracking pipes in the chamber 8. A

pump 32 is particularly desirable where the crude oil passing through the retorts becomes somewhat heavy or sluggish in the last bank. The gases passing through pipes 35, 36 and 37 in chamber 8 are further heated, and it is preferably at this point that the cracking, as it is termed, takes place, the same passing into the header 38 and through pipe 39 to where desired for further treatment. Generally they are passed out and condensed, distilled. or otherwise treated. It may be mentioned that a small degree of vacuum may be maintained in the header 38 or conduit 39 so as to induce a slight circulation or movement, which may be varied to vary the results. By provlding the pipes 41, 42, and 43, and the several valves mentioned, it is possible to direct all gases from the apparatus from theseveral retorts independently. In other Words, the gases may be drawn off in such manner as may be found desirable, either into the header or, through the separate lines or-in various combinations.

I have shown (see Fig. 1) drawofi' pipes 46 which may be installed if desired, and which are sometimes desirable in the manufacture of lubricating oils as in this case the fluid in the retort may be Withdrawn at a desired point in the treatment for such other treatment as is desired. It should be particularly noted that the retort itself may e used wherever found applicable for the heating and vaporizing of fluids, its use not beinglimit'ed to oil treating apparatus exclusively. 1

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may bemade in the same without departingfrom the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claimas new and desire to secure by.Letters Patent is:

1. The method of manufacture of oils with a low boiling point from a higher boiling mixture of hydrpcarbon oils containing low boiling hydrocarbons consisting in conducting said mixture in a stream of considerably greater width than thickness and applying heat thereto so .as to vaporize and separate therefrom the low boiling point oils with a minimum amount of cracking, separately withdrawing different portions of the vapors from the residue at different stages of the treatment thereof, and thereafter cracking the vapors separately by heating the same in cracking zones.

2. The method of treating hydro-carbon oils consisting in flowing a higher boiling liquid hydro-carbon mixture containing low boiling hydro-carbons over a series of heated surfaces so as to produce vapors of low boiling point and separately withdrawing different fractions of vapors of low .boiling point from the residue at a succession of points, thence cracking the vapors separately by heating same in the cracking zones and thence withdrawing the cracked vapors from the cracking zones and immediately blending them.

3. In an oil refining system, a furnace, a plurality of retorts in said furnace, means for passing oil in thin sheets continuously through said retorts, means for separately withdrawing vapors from above said retorts, a plurality of independent means for cracking the vapors whereby the vapors from each of said retorts is treated independently of the vapors of theother retorts and means for withdrawing the independent cracked vapors from said last means and immediately blending them.

4. In an oil refining system, a furnace, a. plurality of retorts in said furnace, said retorts being spaced apart lengthwise thereof, means for passing oil through adjacent retorts, means for withdrawing vapors from above said retorts, means for withdrawing the oil from said retorts, means for cracking the vapors whereby the vapors from each of said retorts is treated. independently of the vapors from the other retorts and means for withdrawing the independent cracked vapors from the last-mentioned means and immediately blending them.

5. In an oil refining system, a furnace, a plurality of banks of retorts spaced therealong from the front toward the rear thereof, each of said banks having an adjacent b nk f re orts commumcating with it, a

separatd ofi'take pipe connected to the remeans for conducting the oil continuously from the reanbank of retorts to the front bank and for withdrawing the oil from the front bank of retorts, individual oli'take pipes for each bank of retorts for withdrawing the vapors from thereaboi'e, a common ofi'take communicating with all of said individual oiftakes, and means for controlling the flow of vapors through said individual and common offtakes.

7. In an oil refining system, a furnace having a combustion chamber, a plurality of retorts therein, conduits connecting said retorts, ofi'take pipes for said retorts, a chamber above the combustion chamber at the rear of the furnace for enclosing said offtake pipes, and thermostatically controlled damp,- ers between said chambers for controlling the admission of the heating medium to said top chamber.

8. In a refining system, a furnace, a plurality of banks of retorts arranged in said furnace, means for conducting the oil continuously through said retorts, offtake pipes connected to the top of said retorts for withdrawing the vapors therefrom, a partition in each retort closely adjacent the opposed side walls of the retort so as to form wide shallow chambers in each retort, whereby the oil travels through each retort substan tially in a sheet and means communicating with each offtake pipe for cracking the vapors.

9. In an oil refining system, a furnace, a retort therein comprising a casing of relatively large area, a partition within said casing between its opposed side walls to form a pair of chambers therewith communicating with each other at the bottom, an

inlet to one chamber adjacent the upper end,

an outlet from the other chamber adjacent the upper end, whereby the oil passes throughthe pair of chambers in the form of a thin sheet, said inlet and outlet being arranged above the furnace, and an offtake pipe above said inlet and outlet for withdrawing the vapors therefrom.

10. In an oil refining system, a furnace. a'separate chamber at the rear thereof and arranged thereabove, a stack leading from the rear of the furnace, a port through said stack communicating with the upper chamber, doors between said upper chamber and furnace, a serles of banks of retorts in said furnace between said up er chamber and the front of the furnace, tiie tops of said retorts projecting above the top of the furnace, means arranged above the furnace for conducting oil through all of said retorts in succession, individual oiftakes communicating with each bank of retorts above said oil conducting means so as to withdraw the vapors therefrom, said oiftakes extending rearwardly within said upper chamber, a common oli'take communicating with the individual oll'takes, valve nieans for controlling the flow through said individual oti'takes and through said common otftake, thermostatically controlled means for operating the doors between the combustion chamber andthe otftake enclosing chamber, and means for ascertaining the temperature at all times in each bank of retorts.

11. In an oil refining system, a furnace, a plurality of banks of retorts spaced therein, means for conducting the oil continuously through the retorts and for withdrawing the oil from the retorts, individual ofitake pipes for each bank of retorts for withdrawing the vapors therefrom and a common ofitake communicating with all of said individual moans;

oiftakes, and means for controlling the flow of vapors through saidindividual and common ofitakes. I

12. In an oil refining system, a furnace, a plurality of banks of retorts spaced there in, means for conducting the oil continuously through the retorts and for withdrawing the oil fromlthe retorts, individual olftake pipes for each bank of retorts for withdrawing the vapors therefrom and a common otftake communicating with all of said individual ofitakes, means for controlling the flow of vapors through said individual and common oti'takes, and means associated with each individual ofl'take for cracking vapors passed through said oiftake. 13. In an oil refining system, a furnace haring a combustion chamber, a retort therein, an oiftake pipe for said retort, a second chamber opemng into the combustion chamber and enclosing said ofitake pi e, and thermostatically controlled means or controlling the admission of the heating medium to said second chamber.

In testimony whereof, .I have hereunto signed my name.

CHARLES S. CORNING. 

